Skelp forming machine



Nov. 22, 1932. FREE 1,888,380

SKELP FORMING MACHINE Fild Aug. 30, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 23 N F 1 I 7 Mun -1L l 1 I l l Mf/JM Nov. 22, 1932. J. w. FREE 7 SKELP FORMING MACHINE Filed Aug. 50, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR XAWQM W i A MZM Nov. 22, 1932; J. w. FREE SKELP FORMING MACHINE Filed Aug, 30. 1929 s Sheets-Sheet a Patented Nov. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE JOHN W. FREE, OF ALIQUIYPA, PENNEYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JONES & LAUGHLIN STEEL CORPORATION, OF EITTSBUBGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- V SYLVANIA SKELP FORMING MACHINE Application filed August 30, 1929. Serial No. 389,374.

My invention relates to the manufacture of pipe and, in particular, to the cold forming of skelp for the manufacture of pipe, as by the flash welding method.

A present preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a partialside elevation of the skelp forming machine of my invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view. of the machine taken along line IIII of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 except that it illustrates only a portion of the latter on an enlarged scale. 1

Referring to the drawings, my skelp forming machine comprises a frame made up of a plurality of structural members which are secured together by means of tie rods 11 in spaced relation maintained by a spacing structure 12. As it will appear from Figure 2, there are two of the frame members 10 on each side of the machine.

The frame members 10 are maintained in spaced relation laterally by means of structural members 13. The lower frame memhere 10 are supported on suitable foundations 14.

A cylindrical mandrel 15 is supported within the frame formed by the members 10. The mandrel 15 is not continuous but consists of a number of sections each mounted on suitable supports 16.

A plurality of bridging members 17 connect the lower portions of the upper frame members 10 and provide bearings 17 a for the bending jaws 18 journaled therein. The bendin jaws 18 consist of jaw members 19 of a length corresponding to that of the sections of the mandrel 15. A plurality of pivoted arms 20 journaled in the member 1'? afi'ord means for actuating the jaw members 19.

Frame members 21 are disposed at a plurality of points along the top of the upper frame members 10 to afford a support for the cylinders 22. Suitable pistons are disposed in the cylinders 22 and provided with cross heads 23. Compression links 2e c0nnect the crossheads-23 with the pivoted arms 20 of the bending jaws 18.

On one side of the skelp forming machine asupporting table 25 is arranged for receiving a supply of unformed skelp. The supporting tab1e25 embodies means for advancing a strip of skelp from the table to the mandrel 15. This means comprises a plu rality of push rods similar to that shown at 26 and any suitable means such as the rack and pinion 27 and 28 for actuating the push rods. The pinions 28 are mounted on a shaft 29 which may be driven from any convenient driving means. a I

I provide means in the form of a balancing finger 80 for maintaining a fiat skelp in proper position on the mandrel 15 preparatory to an operation of the bending jaws 18.

The balancing finger 3,0 is pivoted on a lug M 31 and is adapted to be operated by a fluid pressure cylinder and a piston 32. In addition to the balancing finger 30, Imay make use of a clamping bar 38 which may be operated by means similar to those shown for operating the finger 30. It will be obvious that the balancing finger 30 makes possible the proper positioning of aflat strip of skelp on the mandrel 15 and that the clamping rod 33 serves to maintain the slrelp on the mandrel during the operation of the bending jaws.

After the skelp has been positioned onrthe mandrel 15, the bending jaws 18 may be operated by admitting fluid under pressure to the cylinder 22, whereupon the jaws descend,

engage the edges of the skelp and bendit to the form of the mandrel 15. Because of the slight tendency of the formed skelp to spring away from the die .15 when the bending jaws are retracted. I make the die slightly smaller in diameter than the size of thefinished pipe.

, By reason of the location of the bearings 17 a of the bending jaws 18. the jaws members 19 bend the skelp merely by pressing the edges thereof down around the mandrel 15. There is very little abrasion of the jaw members by the edges of the skelp. The jaw members are removable from the jaws so that the former may be replaced when they become worn as a result of the slight abrading action Wl11Cll can not be avoided.

formed skelp from the mandrel 15 so that it slides down upon the receiving table 38 from which it is passed through the welding machine. As appears in Figure 1, the levers 34 are fixed on the shaft 35, distributed along the length of the skelp and positioned between the adjacent sections of the mandrel 15.

Numerous advantages of my invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. This invention makes possible the rapid forming of flat skelp into semi-cylindrical shape. The operation of the machine is simple and easy to control and the product is uniform in shape. All the advantages of cold bending process for forming skelp are inherent in this invention.

Although I have described but a single preferred embodiment of my invention, it is not my intention to be limited thereto as the scope of my invention is defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a skelp-forming machine, upper and lower longitudinal frame members, and means for maintaining a spaced relation therebetween, a cylindrical die supported horizontally on said lower frame members, means including push rods and a balancing finger for positioning a strip of skelp on said die, means for holding it thereon. forming means for bending said skelp around said die including arms pivoted at each side of said upper frame member for engaging the edge of the skelp on the other side of the die. and a fluid-operated piston for actuating said arms.

2. In a skelp-forming machine, a frame, a cylindrical die supported horizontally in said frame, means for placing a flat strip of skelp on said die and holding it thereon, bending arms journaled in said frame, means for actuating said arms into engagement with the edges of said skelp to bend it around said die, and a pivoted arm for removing the formed skelp from the die.

3. A skelp-former comprising a frame. a cylindrical die supported therein. means for supporting flat strips of skelp adjacent said die, means for removing said strips successively from said supporting means onto said die and means for maintaining the strips thereon, bending jaws at each side of said frame for engaging the edge of said skelp opposite to the side of the frame on which the jaws are pivoted, means for actuating the jaws to bend the skelp around the die and means for removing the formed skelp therefrom when said jaws have been withdrawn.

4. The combination with a mandrel, means for supporting a. metal strip thereon and jaws for bending it around said mandrel, said mandrel being of smaller size than that of the desired bent strip, whereby the inherent tendency of the latter to spring is compensated, of laterally movable arms for removing the strip from the mandrel.

5. The combination with a cylindrical die and bending means for shaping plates thereover, of pivotally mounted, independently retractable balancing means for maintaining plates on the die in position to be engaged by said bending means.

6. In a skelp-forming machine, the com bination with a cylindrical die, means-for placing a flap strip of skelp on the (lie and balancing it thereon, pivoted bending jaws for engaging the edges of said skelp and bending it around said die, meas for actuating said jaws and means for removing the formed skelp laterally from said die.

7. A skelp-former comprising a die for forming a strip of skelp, means for feeding skelp to the die and holdingit thereon, pivoted jaws for cooperating with said die, actuating means for the jaws, and means for removing formed skelp laterally from said die.

8. In a skelp-forming machine, the combination with a cylindrical die, a supporting frame, means for associating a flat strip of skelp therewith, pivoted bending jaws for engaging the edges of said skelp and bending it around said die, means for actuating said jaws and means for removing the formed skelp laterally from said die, said bending jaws being pivoted to said supporting frame at points on opposite sides ofthe die from those engaged by the jaws.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN W. FREE. 

